1.1: What is Science?

What is Science?

Science is not just a subject: it’s a way of thinking. Science is the process used to objectively investigate the universe and everything in it. Geoscience, including geology, offers an important perspective for understanding our world! As geoscientists, we study the Earth of the past, present, and, sometimes, the future.

In previous classes, you may have encountered the scientific method Links to an external site.; however, it is worthwhile to review as it is foundational to any science course. The first stage of the scientific method is observation. An observation Links to an external site. requires using the five senses to engage with the world around you. Observations may be simple, like identifying the outward color of a mineral. Sometimes, however, observations will require you to learn basic background information through an experiment or test. For example, testing the streak of a mineral will require you to rub the mineral across a porcelain plate. This can produce a colored powder that can then be recorded. It is important to always document observations. Many geoscientists record their observations in a field notebook Links to an external site. or on a computer. Documentation ensures records can be accessed in the future, and methods can be duplicated by others. Oftentimes, your observations will lead to questions. In fact, you may find yourself with many questions; this is okay! You may even find yourself repeating the observation portion of the scientific method many times in order to feel confident to move forward in the process. This is also okay, because your continued investigation keeps the process of science alive.

The questions generated during the observation stage can be constructed into a hypothesis. A hypothesis Links to an external site. is a testable prediction of how something works. A hypothesis should be framed in such a way that it is easy to test. Science works to rigorously disprove a hypothesis. Only hypotheses that withstand the rigor of testing become accepted. Regardless of whether a hypothesis is verified or rejected, new information will be gained. When a hypothesis is rejected, this does not equate to failure of the experiment. Instead, it is a prompt to revisit the original observations, make new ones, ask new questions, and form new hypotheses to test.

The final stage of the scientific method is communication Links to an external site.. This stage is often skipped in traditional discussions of the scientific method, but it is very important, and, with the advent of the internet and social media, has become considerably easier to accomplish. Communication within the scientific community allows for experiments to be replicated in novel ways, expanding the original hypothesis and addressing questions from many perspectives. This is why a diverse scientific community is so important! Our “Scientist Spotlights” highlight diverse Geoscientists from their respective fields; we hope you enjoy each short biography.

In addition to communication within the scientific community, communication with the general public is also important. This can be done through a press conference, news report, written article, or via social media, blogging or vlogging Links to an external site.. Many scientists have taken to social media, which has encouraged a rapid, global exchange of information. Check out #ScienceTwitter Links to an external site., #SciComm Links to an external site., and #ScienceComm Links to an external site. for a wealth of science information. As with everything on the internet, be cautious and critically evaluate your sources. Be open to new information and willing to adapt and change your mind when confronted with data, evidence, and facts. If you have an interest in science and journalism, many institutions now offer science communication or science journalism Links to an external site. degrees at all levels.

During an individual scientist’s career, they will often only participate in a small portion of the scientific method. Hundreds of related observations and tested hypotheses accumulate for scientists to formulate a theory. A scientific theory Links to an external site. is an explanation for a natural phenomenon that is supported by a wealth of scientific data. A theory is not yet a scientific law Links to an external site. if there is still some debate on the exact workings of the theory or the reasons why a phenomenon occurs.